In the Clear

Transparent accessories stage a comeback.

Sixties Mod masters may have forged the way with see-through plastics, but a new generation of designers is having a lucid moment. At Calvin Klein, Ulrich Grimm, creative director of shoes and accessories, takes its gladiator to glossy heights with a chunky Lucite heel. Motivated by the architectural materials in Matthew Barney’s works, Grimm injects a load of sass into the sandal. Maison Martin Margiela’s translucent belt sexes up pristine white lace for an Eighties Madonna look. And the world will definitely appear more pleasant with Chloé’s rose-colored glasses. Recalling the locks on the house’s Paddington bag, the retro shades offer a fresh alternative to black lenses. Seeing clearly never looked so good.